Somerset Businessmen Rout Indiana in Legion Baseball Tourney Game

STATE COLLEGE - Somerset couldn't have asked for a much better start in the Pennsylvania American Legion Region 7 baseball tournament.

The Businessmen dominated every facet of the game as they pounded out 24 hits and committed only two errors in a 21-2 victory over Indiana on Monday at Shaner Sports Complex Uni-Mart Stadium.

The contest, scheduled for nine innings, was called after the seventh because of the 10-run mercy rule.

"The first win is always big at tournaments like this," Somerset pitcher Justin Kreger said. "It gets you rolling into the rest of the games and gives you a little bit of confidence."

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Kreger complimented Somerset's offense with a pitching performance that was just as dominant.

The 19-year-old right-hander surrendered only six hits and two runs while striking out two and walking four over six innings.

"We're obviously pleased," Somerset manager Bob Hay said. "We've had a two-year drought of winning a game (at the regional tournament) so we certainly wanted to get past the first one.

"We really swung the bats fantastic. … Once we got a big lead, Justin threw up a couple zeros and we just kept on hitting. I was able to get Justin out (of the game) at 97 pitches and 100 is about his limit if he's coming back on two days rest. It worked out perfect for us. You couldn't have written it any better."

Somerset plays Central Penn League runner-up Bellefonte today at 4 p.m. in the second round. Bellefonte advanced with a 14-3, seven-inning victory over Westmoreland County champion Hempfield on Monday.

"I don't think we'll have a letdown (today)," said Hay, who tabbed left-hander Drew Shaulis as his game-two starter. "The stakes are too big for that. We realize the big goal and what's ahead, although I wish we would have saved some of those hits for (today). We'll come ready to play and have fun."

Somerset started strong Monday with five runs in the first inning, then added two in the third, four in the fourth, four in the fifth and six in the seventh.

Several players contributed to Somerset's offensive attack, including Tyler Ferry, who had four hits and four RBIs. Jordan Kaufman also collected four hits and drove in a pair.

"Everybody was hitting the ball well," Kaufman said. "You're not going to lose very many games if you hit the ball and score runs the way we did today."

Kris Park provided three hits, including a triple, three RBIs and four runs scored. Kreger helped his own cause with two singles, a double, two RBIs and four runs scored.

Shaulis scored four times, had two hits and drove in a run. Adam Angermeier tripled, singled, scored three runs and drove in a pair. Brett Ziegler collected three hits and Matt Orslene added three RBIs.

"I thought we did a great job with two strikes," Hay said. "Even when we've slumped, we've always done a pretty good job hitting the ball with two strikes and two outs."

In other tournament action Monday, Butler County champion Saxonburg defeated Jefferson County champion DuBois 10-3 and Central Penn League champion State College crushed Somerset's Cambria Legion counterpart St. Michael, 11-2. State College and Saxonbrug play in a winners' bracket game tonight.